A method for qualitative and/or quantitative characterization of a coating surface is provided, comprising: providing a program recognizing coating surface defect types; determining, by the program, whether a camera(s) coupled to the program is within a predefined distance range and/or within a predefined image acquisition angle range relative to a currently presented coating surface; depending on the determination: generating a feedback signal indicative of whether adjustment of the position of the camera(s) is within predefined distance range and/or within the predefined image acquisition angle range; and/or automatically adjusting the relative distance of the camera and and/or automatically adjusting the angle of the camera; enabling the camera to acquire an image of the coating surface only when the camera(s) is/are within the predefined distance range and/or image acquisition angle range; processing the digital image for recognizing coating surface defects; and outputting a characterization of the coating surface.